Culture

On 22nd March 2017, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, welcomed to the Conference Centre of the Patriarchal Library within the Patriarchal Mansion, the Association of Alexandrian Scientists, who were visiting the Patriarchate for the first time.

On 16th May 2017, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, accompanied byu His Eminence Narkissos Metropolitan of Accra and Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria and the Consul General of Greece in Alexandria, Mr. Emmanuel Kakavelakis, visited Government House of the Great City of Alexandria, where he donated an elaborate bronze bust of Alexander the Great, a unique work by an artisit from Tinos, with the inxcription “Praxitelous”.

A stash of bronze coins dating to the fifth through seventh centuries has been found on the highway leading to Jerusalem in an archaeological excavation that began in June 2016. Archaeologists believe the coins may have belonged to Christians fleeing the invading Persian forces, reports Christian Today. The coins discovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority were easily dated as they bear the image of the Byzantine emperors during whose reign they were made. Three periods are represented in the find: the reigns of Emperor St. Justinian (483-565), Maurice (539-602), and Phocas (547-610). Each coin depicts its respective ruler in military dress and bearing a cross.

It was in the gallery of the Parish house of Saint Sava church in Belgrade that deacon Dragan S. Tanasijević, the official photographer of the Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Church, presented a lecture on the topic extremely interesting Chilandar – the mother of Serbian Spirituality and with projection of the selected photos submitted to the audience a new insight into the Holy Serbian Rpyal Lavra, the monastery Chilandar.

On the world and eternity of the Athonite monasteries and specifically on the monastery Chilandar, the artist, photographer by the will of God, deacon Dragan Tanasijević exposed an unusual story complementing it with the photos that were incorporated into the line of pearls of Serbian spirituality.

And He spoke also this parable unto certain men who trust in themselves that they are righteous, and despise others. "Two men went up unto the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. And the Pharisee stood and prayed thus to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like the rest of mankind, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or as this publican. I fast twice in the week. I pay tithe of all that I gain.' But the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up even his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful unto me the sinner.' I tell you that this man went down to his house justified rather than the other. For every one that exalts himself shall be abased, and he that abases himself shall be exalted" (Luke 18:9-14).

On February 2nd, 2017, His Holiness Irinej, Serbian Patriarch, presented an Order of Saint Sava of the Second Degree to Mr. MilovanVitezovic at the Serbian Patriarchate.

The solemn award ceremony was attended by members of the Holy Synod of Bishops, Their Graces Bishops: Irinej of Backa, Justin of Zica, Fotije of Dalmatia and Teodosije of Raska-Prizren. In the decision of the Holy Synod of Bishops, which was read during the ceremony by the Secretary general of the Synod, protopresbyter-staurophor Dr. Savo Jovic, was pointed out that the high distinction of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the order of Saint Sava of the Second Degree was handed to Mr. Milovan Vitezovic, writer and playwright from Belgrade, for his demonstrated love for the Holy Mother Church, as well as for decades-long fruitful work in the field of Serbian literature and culture, persistently contributing to the preservation of spiritual and traditional values and the Serbian people.

A meeting on the project to translate the Bible into Russian sign language was held in Moscow on January 27. The participants, representing the patriarchate’s Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Service, the Institute for Bible Translation, the All-Russian Society for the Deaf, clergy working with the deaf from various dioceses, sign language interpreters, and the deaf community, decided to begin with the Gospel of Mark, reports the site of the Moscow Patriarchate.